Music Conservatory of Westchester2010 Vocal Performance Academy. Stepsister’s Lament with Emma Boisitz as Joy and Georgia Rehbock as Portia.
The Vocal Academy performs Friday night at 7 p.m.!
Garrick Ohlsson with Carol Shiffman
The Music Conservatory of Westchester recently celebrated their 80th Anniversary milestone with a special year-end performance featuring world renowned concert pianist and Conservatory alumnus Garrick Ohlsson. The 80th Anniversary Concert, held at The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, also highlighted the Conservatory’s performing ensembles. A second concert, showcasing the Conservatory’s youth ensembles, took place in the afternoon.
A native of White Plains, NY, Garrick Ohlsson began his piano studies at age eight at the Music Conservatory of Westchester and, at thirteen, entered the Julliard School. Since his 1970 triumph as the first American winner of the Chopin International Piano Competition in Warsaw, Mr. Ohlsson has established himself worldwide as a musician of magisterial interpretive and technical prowess. Long regarded as one of the world’s leading exponents of the music of Frédéric Chopin, Mr. Ohlsson delighted the Conservatory’s audience with an all Chopin program.
Performing in the first half of the evening concert were the Conservatory’s Chamber Orchestra, Teen Vocal Ensemble, Brass Ensemble, Piano Quartet, and Piano Partners. The afternoon concert featured performances from the Conservatory’s Youth Chorus, Suzuki Violins, Junior Strings, Chamber Strings, Brass Ensemble, Piano Trio, Piano Partners, and String Quartets. Participating students ranged in age from 5 to 65.
At a reception following Mr. Ohlsson’s performance, Carol Shiffman, the Conservatory’s Executive Director, presented him with framed photos from a concert in the late 1970’s in which he appeared as soloist with the Conservatory’s orchestra. The photographs were provided by the orchestra’s conductor, Gabriel Banat.
“The Music Conservatory of Westchester’s 80th Anniversary Concert was a fitting end to a marvelous year filled with many wonderful anniversary-themed events,” said Shiffman. “We are privileged to have such a distinguished artist as an alumnus and proud of all our students who did such a phenomenal job in both the afternoon and evening performances.” Read more »
We’ll be posting photos all week from the event!
Months of hard work practicing the clarinet, saxophone and drums will finally pay off for Zachary Berro when he showcases his skills next month. Berro, a member of the Chamber Orchestra at the Music Conservatory of Westchester, will perform at the school’s 80th anniversary celebration in Purchase featuring the group’s other ensembles and a world-renowned pianist. Berro, 14, of Armonk, also a member of the conservatory’s jazz and rock ensembles, has attended classes at the school three times a week since the winter to rehearse the show.
“It’s really fun because we’ve kind of been working on this (to) show people how much we’ve improved,” he said. “It just all comes together in the end.”
The Music Conservatory of Westchester will host its 80th anniversary with two benefit concerts: an afternoon performance featuring the youth ensembles and an evening show with the teen and adult ensembles. Guest artist and former conservatory student Garrick Ohlsson will also perform during the milestone celebration in the evening. The world-renowned pianist and Grammy award winner began studying music at the conservatory at the age of 8 before attending the Juilliard School five years later.
“Mr. Ohlsson is an artist very much in demand and plays to sold-out houses,” said Jean Newton, dean of students and faculty. “We are just thrilled he is coming to help celebrate our 80th anniversary.
Arrival Time and Sound Checks
Students should arrive at 5:45 p.m.. Please use the main lobby entrance to the Performing Arts Center, go up the stairs and enter the Recital Hall through the main audience doors. Sound checks which will start promptly at 6:00. Ensembles will have their sound checks in the following order:
1) Piano Duets 4) Teen Vocal Ensemble
2) Piano Quartet 5) Chamber Orchestra Read more »
Help us to continue to fulfill our mission of excellence in arts education.Donate today.
MusicConservatory Westchester
